Why did UH overlook local design talent?

As a graphic designer in Hawaii and as a graduate of the University of Hawaii Graphic Design Program, I am saddened by the recent events regarding the choosing of a new UH logo.

Why would the university look to a mainland company to create a logo? There is a bounty of people with design talent right here in Hawaii who could have designed the logo. This symbol represents both history and Hawaiian culture, while keeping in mind that it is for an educational institution.

I'm sorry to say that the two designs under consideration fit into the mainstream look of a surf company. Is this the kind of mark we want representing a university?

While I'm not attacking the design company creating this logo, I do question the selection process of the committee assigned to this matter and hope there will be some sort of positive conclusion.

Karyn Yasui Lau

Killing Waikiki events will kill the whole area

It appears that the City Council Bills 11 and 12, relating to the Executive Operating and Capital Budgets, threaten city programs such as the Kuhio Beach torch-lighting and hula show, which is exceptionally popular with our visitors. Sunset on the Beach and Kapiolani Park Bandstand's Friday night concerts have become popular with both local families and visitors alike, and they also are threatened.

It is these types of events that complete our visitors' Waikiki experience. These wonderful events have brought life back into Waikiki, and to lose them now would be a disaster.

Some people may think of these events as just luxuries. They go way beyond being luxuries; they have become an integral part of Waikiki's success. Without these popular events, we go back to being the concrete jungle with nothing new to offer but luxury and trinket shopping.

We hear over and over that the success of Waikiki as a visitor destination is critical to Oahu. If that's so, then it is time for our City Council to act to save this important part of Waikiki and not kill it. I hope the City Council will recognize that we are still playing catch-up in Waikiki and now is not the time to hurt Waikiki.

Bob Hampton
President, Waikiki Beach Activities

Isle credit unions are more local than banks

I found it quite amusing reading about the recent tiff among the CEOs of Hawaii's top banks about who is "more local" in Hawaii. Of all financial services institutions in Hawaii, there is none more local than credit unions. Credit unions were formed by "local people" -- plantation workers, teachers, government workers, and others -- to obtain loans which were often difficult or impossible to obtain from banks. More than 60 years ago, many "local workers" in Hawaii pooled their money in a new cooperative movement to form credit unions for this purposes. Today, nearly 100 credit unions in Hawaii are alive and well and remain very "local."

Credit unions are locally owned by their members and directed by volunteer members. Credit union members generally earn more interest on their savings and pay much less interest for loans because credit unions do not have highly paid executives running them, like banks do. Also, credit unions do not have mainland investors to pay dividends to.

Truly, one cannot find any financial institution "more local" than Hawaii's credit unions: local people helping local people to meet their local financial needs.

Wyman Au
Director, Honolulu Federal Employees FCU

Kits use free speech for positive influence

Thank you, Superintendent Pat Hamamoto and the Department of Education, for having the courage and insight to let students distribute the Student Survival Kits to their peers on campus. This is certainly a positive influence in an otherwise not-always-positive environment, and it is truly in keeping with the spirit of the First Amendment, freedom of expression. Rest assured you have done a great service to the youth of our community.

Kent Kitagawa
Pearl City

Students get lesson in constitutional rights

I am writing in support of the Jesus Hawaii Project and the rights of the students to share their faith with other students. With so many conflicting views of "freedom of speech," how can we deny these students their right simply because they speak on behalf of the Christian community?

These students are merely making resources available with no strings attached. If this were a gay rights group, activists would be outraged if anyone tried to stop them from sharing information in the same fashion.

These students, who are sharing their faith and the packet of information, have a constitutional right to do so, just as the students they are approaching have the right to listen or to walk away.

Let us not get in the way of the youth in our community. They are stepping out to do what their convictions are compelling them to do. All of our students must know that they can make an impact on the society that they will one day be responsible to govern. Whether the student is on the giving or receiving end of this project, both must know that our society allows our constitutional freedoms to be exercised.

Jackie Kemp
Kailua